Criminal Minds Evolution (1×04) Pay-Per-View Review

For our review of the last episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution, click here.

When it comes to this latest episode of Criminal Minds: Evolution, it perhaps feels less like this new incarnation of Criminal Minds for better or worse. Still finding the right balance between procedural an serialized elements, the overarching mystery takes somewhat of a step back here as the episode feels like a greatest hits of sorts which is absolutely not a knock by any means but rather makes for a change of pace. That being said, there were still some developments to be had when it came to the serial killer network. Seeing the characters in their element never get old as this new series allows for more flexibility in terms of character development thus making the story beats hit that much harder. More so than about the case of the week, Evolution is more about the characters and for that, it certainly succeeds as they are given the aforementioned mystery. The only question is whether or not it could sustain a 10 episode season. Therefore, the writers need to be creative with how they plot out the season. While it wasn’t necessarily seamless in Pay-Per-View, it was still an entertaining episode.

Apprehending who the BAU believed to be part of the serial killer network at the end of the last episode, Tyler Green (Ryan-James Hatanaka) was revealed to have merely infiltrated the network as a means to get revenge on Sicarius for whom he believed killed his sister. From there, the next step was to try to find out what he knew which would be easier said than done as there was a trust gap between them to overcome. Meanwhile, the impact of the BAU shakeup at the end of the last episode was a non-factor.

The key was diving deep into Green’s memories for any evidence in the disappearance of his sister. He believed her also missing boyfriend to be her killer, however, his cognitive interview got too much for him. Building upon their already established rapport as Garcia’s informant, she tried to use that to her advantage with Green in connecting with him as she was different from the others for reasons that should already be known by now. Ultimately, this different version of Garcia had a little more edge to her which was interesting to watch play out on screen. Kudos once again goes to Kirsten Vangsness.

The killer, or in this case killers, in this episode were a pair of brothers adept with technology who terrorized home owners while they were away by staging elaborate murders on their security cameras as they watched from another location. Getting increasingly brash as they gear up to an endgame, the BAU tracked them down rather easily as they reached their supposed endgame. Both very young, this time played out differently with one brother getting shot and killed and the other being apprehended and brought back to the BAU. After interviewing the surviving brother, it was clear that they had no connection to the serial killer network which was a disappointing outcome especially for Rossi.

Sicarius would also show up for a quick scene alluding to his backstory and how things may have started for him.

In the end, Pay-Per-View managed another cliffhanger as LaMontagne shared that he may have cancer.

still courtesy of Paramount+

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.